Dispensing device



Dec. 18, 1951, KRAMER 2,579,083

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed June 11, 1949 n u 41 1 1 I IIIIIIIIJ III IIIPatented Dec. 18, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Lloyd M. Kramer,Brainerd, Minn.

Application June 11, 1949, Serial No. 98,431

2 Claims. (Cl. 222-437) My invention relates, generally, to dispensersfor granular material and more specifically to dispensers of the typewhich may be used to dispense predetermined amounts of granular orpowdered material.

An important object of my invention is the provision of a dispenser asset forth which may be opened to dispense granular or powderedmaterialin various predetermined relatively-accurate amounts, and whichmay be closed to pre-'- vent leakage of material therefrom or ingressthereto of dust, insects, etc.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a dispenser as setforth which is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to operate, and which isextremely durable in use.

Generally stated, my invention consists of the novel devices,combinations of devices, and arrangements of parts hereinafter describedand defined in the claims. 3

In the accompanying drawings, like characters indicate like partsthroughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a preferred embodiment of myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a. vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation with some parts broken away and someparts shown in section of my novel dispenser illustrating its use inmeasuring an amount of material to be dispensed; I

Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 4, but showing a diiferentposition of some of the parts;

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Figs. 4 and 5, but showing my devicein a position to discharge granular material therefrom; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view corresponding to Fig. 5, but illustratingthe modified form of the invention.

Referring with greater particularity to the preferred embodiment of myinvention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the numeral-lindicates in its entirety a generally rectangular open-topped containerhaving side walls 2 and 3, opposite end walls 4 and 5, and a bottom 6.The open top of the container is normally closed by a cover I.Thecontainer l and cover 1 are preferably made from synthetic resins,but may also be made from other suitable materials, such as wood ormetal.

The opposite side walls 2 and 3 are internally grooved to providechannels 9 in upwardly spaced parallel relation to the bottom 6 andwhich slidably receive a partition 9. A transversely-extending groove orchannel III in the end wall 4 and in the plane of the channels 8 isadapted to receive the inner end of the partition 9. The partition 9divides the container l into an upper or storage chamber II and a loweror dispensing chamber I2, and extends laterally outwardly of theopposite end wall 5 which terminates at the level of the channels 8 withits lower end abutting the upper surface of the partition 9. It will beseen by reference to Figs. 2, 4 and 5 that the open end of thedispensing chamber opposite the end wall 4 provides a discharge openingl3. This opening I3 is normally closed by a depending flange l4integrally formed with the partition 9 and which is perforated'asindicated at l5 (see Fig. 1). I provide suitable means for graspingpartition 9 to move the same, such as outwardly projecting ears or thelike IS on the depending flange l4. It is important to note that whenthe flange I4 is in abutting engagement with the container and closingthe discharge opening [3, that the inner end of the partition 9 isreceived within the channel I0 and the dispensing chamber I2 is sealedoif from the storage chamber ll thereby. 1

Rigidly secured to the partition 9 by means of a rivet or the like I! isa rearwardly declining arm it which terminates in a wall element 19. Thewall element l9 extends the entire width of the dispensing chamber l2and declines toward the end wall ll of the container l with its loweredge in contact with the bottom 6. Pref erably and as shown, the wallelement I9 is disposed in the dispensing chamber l2 adjacent the innerend of the partition 9. The upper edge portion of the sloping wallelement I9 is spaced from the partition 9 to provide a passagetherebetween for the flow of material.

With the cover I removed, the storage chamber Il may be filled withsugar, flour or other material to be dispensed, and the cover replaced.In the drawings, A indicates the granular material in the container.When it is desired to use a given amount of the contents, the partition9 is moved laterally outwardly a predetermined distance, as indicated inFig. 4. Material A flows from the storage chamber II to the dispensingchamber l2 through the aperture formed by the outward movement of thepartition 9. As shown, only a limited amount of the material A can flowthrough the aperture. Some of the granular material lodges against thesloping wall no material can escape from the chamber I!" while that inthe chamber I2 is discharged from the container l.

In the modified form of the invention illus trated in Fig. 7, partsidentical tothose .Qf Fig. 1 to 6 inclusive are indicated by likecharacters with prime marks'added The slidable partition 9' thereofterminates outwardly of the end. wall 5' in "an angularly disposedhandle member 29. This form of the invention provides foranginrestricted discharge opening 13" and is .pjarticularly useful whenthe granular material A consists of granulated sugar vor the like;

The advantages of my invention are especially significant when .thedevice is used by diners in restaurants and the like, in-that use of aspoon to ladle-outz the'material is rendered unnecessary; and flies,.dust and the like are-excluded from contact withsaid material.

My invention been thoroughly tested and found to be adequate for :theaccomplishment of the objectives set forth, and while I have disclosed apreferred embodiment and a single modification of my device, itwill beunderstood that the same is capable of further modification withoutdeparture from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in theclaims.

'Whatlclaimis: v a l. Adispenser forgranular material comprising agenerally rectangular container, a sliding partition inthe lower portionof said container dividing the same into an upper storage chamber and alower dispensing chamber, the outer end of said partition extendinglaterally-outwardly through one wall of said container and the inner endof said partition in cooperation with "the opposite wall of saidcontainer providing a communicating aperture between said storage anddispensing chambers upon outward sliding movements of said partition,said container providing a discharge opening below theoutwardly-projected end of said partition, the extreme outer end of saidpartition being downturned to provide a closure for said dischargeopening when said partition is moved to close the aperture between the=storage and dispensing chambers, and a slopingwall scoop elementcarried by the partition and disposed in the dispensing chamber adjacentthe inner end of the partition to limit the 'flow of material from thestorage chamber.

2. A dispenser for granular material comprising a generally rectangularcontainer, a sliding partition in the :lower portion of said containerdividingthe same into an upper storage chamber and a'lowerdispensingchamber, the outer end of said partition extending laterallyoutwardly throughone wall of said container and the inner end of said'partition in cooperation with the opposite wall of said containerproviding a communicating aperture between said storage and dispensingchambers upon outward sliding movements of said partitiomsaid containerproviding a discharge opening below the outwardly-projected end of saidpartition, the extreme outer end of said partition being downturned toprovide a closure for said discharge opening when said partition ismoved to close the aperture between the storage and dispensing chambers,said closure-forming downturned end of said partition wall beingprovided with perforations to permit sifting of granular materialtherethrough.

LLOYD M. KRAMER.

- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record. in the fileof this patent:

V UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

